RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech is favored to win the inaugural season of men's basketball in the Great American Conference.

Officials announced Wednesday the Wonder Boys had received nine first-place votes and 63 points in the preseason poll voted on by the league's head coaches. Arkansas Tech finished the 2010-2011 season with a 25-6 record.

Harding was ranked second with one first-place vote and 54 overall points. The Bisons won the Gulf South Conference Championship last season and finished with a 25-5 record.

Arkansas-Monticello was third with one first-place vote and 48 total points, followed by Southwestern Oklahoma at fourth.

Southeastern Oklahoma; Ouachita Baptist; East Central; Henderson State and Southern Arkansas round out the poll.

The conference championship tournament is set for March 1 through March 4 in Bartlesville, Okla.